Nesting: Part Two

I wasn't sure how it was going to happen, but a week ago, the husband and the boys got the closet started for me, and now it's all done! I love that it took us nine years to finally get a shoe rack. :)

It may not look fancy, but since I don't have any before pictures (since the boys started unexpectedly), you can't see just how bad it really was! Also, in the past couple of weeks, I have been able to clean out the fridge and the under-the-sink areas for our kitchen and bathrooms.

Oohhh, under the sinks was so bad! I don't know how I let it become so messy and just yuck. This picture doesn't do it justice. And in our bathroom, some cough syrup had leaked, so that was fun! I am excited, though, because my only real project left is to wash all the car seat covers (including the baby's) and clean out the van. Other than that, this week I can just concentrate on staying on top of things, hanging out with my boys, and anticipating this little one's arrival. :) Oh! And a nice, relaxing haircut. :D

Nesting

We have 18 days until this baby arrives.

Eighteen. Days.

This morning, when I took the boys to the library, the librarian asked me, "So have you gotten everything ready for this one to come home?"

"Uhhhh … well, there's really not much to do when it's your third."

True and untrue.

Elias is still in "the nursery," and we haven't really figured out when we want to kick him out into Kieran's room. Of course, the baby will sleep in our room at first, so all that really requires is setting up the pack 'n play. :D

But do I still have a to-do list? You betcha! Somehow, what seemed like an eternity is all of the sudden just around the corner, and there are some serious nesting things I want to get checked off of my list. Unfortunately, we have had a few rounds of sicknesses go through our family, and that just really lets all of the air our of one's plans, doesn't it?

So today I decided to stop waiting for my grown-up helper to be well and healthy and available and coerce my little minions persuade my dear children to be my helpers, instead. For the 2.5 years that we have lived here, I have had my "pantry" in the closet of the nursery and kept our trash and can/bottle recycling bins in our coat closet. Since I have also been a stay-at-home mom now for over two years, as well, my baking and other kitchen projects have increased; therefore, I knew that wasn't going to work to have a little one slumbering in there just when I realize I need more brown sugar.

I wish I would have gotten some pictures of the boys hard at work today! Okay, so it was mostly Kieran who helped, but still, he was super into it! We emptied out the coat closet, swept, and scrubbed down the walls and the floor. I put away the jackets that we haven't been using this season, then we emptied my shelving unit so it could be moved. Once I had it in the closet (in the only position it would fit), Kieran carried each food item one-by-one so I could restock the shelves. :)

We got a new stainless steel trash can that sits in the kitchen (hopefully harder to accidentally knock over than the plastic ones?), and since I stopped buying pop/soda, we threw out both of our old cans (less scrubbing for me – yay!) We also threw out quite a few other things, so now the nursery closet is reorganized, and I need to decide how I want to use the space in there. And my so-called pantry is reorganized and more accessible to me, too. Maybe someday I'll have a real pantry, but in the meantime, I'm thankful for what we have (and for all the stuff I can sneakily store in our upright deep freezer).

Next on my list? The pit of despair that is our master closet. Time to get motivated!

Coming Home

Kieran and I spent some time visiting my dad's family in Florida this past week. We left on the 17th (Asher's birthdate) and came back on the 23rd.  While we were there, I experienced the first bout of homesickness I can remember.

I love my family, and I was long overdue for a visit--being away from "home" has never bothered me much before. Wherever you are, you are always missing someone. But whether it was the day on which we left or the fact that the three of us have never been apart for a night, I called Jordan that first night and I sobbed. Friends will tell you that I am not much of a crier, but that evening, I felt as though I had left my heart behind. My husband reassured me and loved me through his words, and eventually I felt better.

Source: monsterhouseplans.com via Sabrina on Pinterest

This onset of homesickness got me thinking...isn't that how I should feel about heaven? Shouldn't I at all times be yearning for my One True Love? I wrote about this once before, when we were anxiously awaiting Kieran's arrival. I just could not get these lyrics out of my head:

Soon and very soon
My King is coming
Robed in righteousness and crowned with love
When I see Him I
Shall be made like Him
Soon and very soon 

Soon and very soon
I'll be going
To the place He has prepared for me
There my sin erased
My shame forgotten
Soon and very soon 

I will be with the One I love
With unveiled face I'll see Him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon

I get so attached to this world--the people in my life, my dreams and aspirations, and even the things I want to acquire. And it steals my joy. What if I lived out this passage from Philippians 1?

For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith.

If only I could remember that "we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior" (Philippians 3:20). I want to long to be reunited with my Savior and be free from the sin that so easily entangles me and all of the sickness, anguish, and death that surrounds me. But I also want to long to serve those around me. To encourage my brothers and sisters to grow in Christ so we can together be lights in the darkness. So together, we can show people the way home.

The Feminine Touch

I was watching TLC's "The Lottery Changed My Life" while doing some laundry today, and this thirty-something millionaire bachelor was showing the cameramen the house he upgraded to. He told them he liked his house--he thought he had made good choices in designing it--and that he was "very neat", but he conceded that it was lacking "the feminine touch". He would gladly have a woman in the house to spruce it up a bit. :)

My house--or apartment, rather--is not fit for a millionaire, but I would like to think that I am learning to add those feminine touches. I have some flower arrangements around our place that I decided to update, and this is what I came up with:

This was something I had in my kitchen with some coffee beans and similar flowers, only in blue. I didn't put them away very well when I decorated for Christmas, and my husband unknowingly threw them away. :) Now this is in my main bathroom that has some orange in it. I like it for the color and for the scent it gives (French vanilla roast!). In the kitchen, the smell of the coffee beans was kind of lost.

Originally, I had one, large, light blue lily in here, but it was starting to fade and I didn't think the color was saturated enough anyway. It's hard to pick up all the different colors in here, but I really like the color and the added fullness of this arrangement.

This is my personal favorite. Again, pictures don't do all of the little color variances justice, but I found this hydrangea and fell in love with it. It took me quite awhile to decide on the filler to go behind it, but I think it really fits together.

I also picked up these but still need to find a shallow bowl for them to go in so they can be the centerpiece on my counter.

On another note, I lost another 1% (yay!) and worked out for three hours and 15 minutes last week! The dieting is going really well during the weekdays, but I will admit that weekends are proving to be somewhat of a struggle. Ah, discipline. :)

The Grand Tour

It seems like it was only yesterday that I posted about getting settled in and how I would soon have pictures for you. After having our friend, Vern, stay over Monday through Tuesday during his 20-days-on/eight-days-off schedule (yikes!), I decided to finally take some pictures while the place was all in order. :) So, with what little battery I had left, I flitted about the apartment, quickly snapping photos before supper and rushing off to Awana. Instead of posting all of them here, I made a little slideshow for your viewing enjoyment! The pictures are a little grainy because of the lighting and my hurried state causing me to not always wait for the camera to get into focus. There are still some things that I want to change, but in general, I am pretty satisfied with how everything has turned out.  I may be a little prejudiced, though--in the words of Jane Austen, "How quick come the reasons for approving what we like!" Nonetheless, enjoy!

P.S. Check out the dresser Jordan made! His plan is to make a whole bedroom set for us. :D

"Our Home"

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Jordan the Conquerer

So, I came home today to a technological revolution.

For the past two weeks I have practically been living in a cave. Now, living in a cave is not all bad. There's plenty of time to organize the cave, scrub it down, and decorate it with care. Some people would really love to find a cave of their own, and I am blessed to have one.

But to go without television, internet, and a phone for two weeks is pretty unheard of these days unless you are taking a trip up to the boundary waters or something.

Today, I came home to the internet. That's right, a signal streaming free and clear to my lovely Toshiba laptop. "How did this marvelous occurrence come about?" you ask. My husband conquered the internet. The details are unimportant, but it was a well-fought battle, of which Jordan came out the winner.

I'm so proud.

Tonight, we are off to switch cell phone providers (to one that has a tower near us) and perhaps buy a television. If not, I'll be okay 'cause my cave just got a little bit brighter. ;)

A Taste of Home

First of all, I have to tell you that there is not much to say on our little jaunt into Chi-town. We got in and we got out in three days without actually doing anything that I wanted to do except going to Taste of Chicago. I think that both Jordan and I were disappointed, but I don't want to put that on the good old Taste because it's not its fault that my family likes to breeze right through things without actually taking the time to really stop and experience anything; however, it was beautiful and frightfully hot while we were there, I got to catch up a little with my family, I ate some sweet potato fries, and I think we were a blessing to my grandma. So, it was a good time overall. Plus, we got to try out our brand-new (to us) Garmin GPS--holy buckets! How could I have forgotten to choose the toll-free route? Driving into Chicago on a Friday afternoon the first weekend of Taste of Chicago of all days!! I believe, had I been driving a manual, I would have gone somewhat insane. :)

I still have no pictures of our new place because we are still having issues hooking up our wireless--it shall be conquered! But we are 80% unpacked and I love it. For the first time since I left my parents' home I feel like I am at home. Not that home isn't where the heart is or anything. I just have always felt like a transient in an apartment. We love the space and our neighborhood, and even the drive wakes me up before it's time for work. ;)

That being said, I thought you all might be interested in what this moving experience has taught me (to clarify, I have moved before, but always as a single person with little to my name). Before this library computer kicks me off, I'll offer up my list of the top five things to have when moving:

1. A Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
   It really is magic! You can clean all you want, but when you "erase" what you have cleaned, it puts your skills to shame. It's like there's a little bit of Harry Potter in every sponge.
   
   
2. A U-Haul truck
   Or a Budget truck or whatever company you like. The point is, it's not as expensive as I thought, you can rent dollies and furniture pads for a fairly good price, and the convenience and peace of mind is priceless.
   
   
3. Time
   No matter how much you budget for packing/cleaning/moving, always add on another 25% at least. Actually, the actual transportation of items from one place to another does not require much of your time. It's the sorting and the discarding and the mental anguish that really tax you.
   
   
4. Friends/Family
   Hallelujah for people who are willing to lend a hand! Many hands really do make light work, as well as add to the fun.
   
   
5. A humble and contrite spirit
   There comes a time when you really must "suck it up" and say that, yes, you will let your mother-in-law help you clean even though you have ignored housekeeping for the last three weeks and in three years have not even once moved the refrigerator, stove, or couch to clean behind them. Just remember:  moms have changed dirty diapers, bleached dirty socks, and placed caution tape on the door of your teenaged bedroom. They still have the heart and the gusto to don a hazmat suit and grab a toilet brush.

On the Hunt

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time researching apartments near our area. I am a researcher. I rarely make a big purchase without investing in some serious reading or browsing. Well, let me tell you, searching for apartments is frustrating! Especially in a town like ours, where there is half as much rental housing alone as there is people--chalk that one up to some over-excitement in expanding the west side. Anyway, we were really leaning toward moving about 15 minutes north of where we are now in order to get a bigger place with less of a blow to the checkbook. We finally made a decision that this would be the best choice overall.

You know that old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover"? Well, it's hard not to when there is such a broad spectrum. I mean, I'm not an apartment snob or anything, just discerning, I think. What am I saying? You be the judge.

The winner of "Worst Dressed Apartment" is:

And the winner of "Best Dressed Apartment" is:

To be fair, the first apartment was a one-bedroom with a walk-in closet a couple of people could easily sleep in. And the mildew was in the hall closet adjacent to the washers--which had leaked--and the manager said that was going to be fixed within the week. But, oh, the wallpaper! I could imagine it making me dizzy if I spent too much time in there. Plus, there was a hanging light in the dining nook that looked like it was taken from a 50's Italian restaurant that I could bump my head on if I jumped (and that's saying something).

But this second apartment! I'm sure it had something to do with the fact that the tenants still live there, but I walked in and it felt like home. This one is a 911 sq. ft., two-bedroom apartment with two bathrooms, a washer and dryer, and some great closet space, as well as a tiny patio area. All for a reasonable price--actually, we won't be paying much more than we have been for our little 550 sq. ft. apartment. Excitement! We hope to sign our lease this week, and then we might get to do some painting (for a little reduction in rent), because the current residents have a lavender accent wall in the bedroom (um, no), a pink and purple kids room, and a very pink bathroom. I've never painted a place that I call home before!

So, now I am just praying that everything will go through and that I won't get too distracted by the "stuff" aspect of moving. It is so easy to get into a new place and look at all of your things and say "My stuff looks old. I need new stuff!" Funny, how God reminds me even through something like apartment hunting that my heart is fickle and I need His grace just to remain focused on Him.